[IC] Eberron: The Plumbers

[KahlessNestor]

Upper Central Plateau/Mithral Tower/Unicorn Estate
Far, 27 Rhaan, YK 998 (Early autumn)/2140
Weather: Temperature normal for the season (cool), no wind, light rain (outside the towers)
Round 0

Alara finds it difficult to read Alden d’Orien and the kalashtar. When she mentioned that they came from the Watch, Alden gave a strangled scream and buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking.

The kalashtar put his hand on Alden’s shoulder and stood up. “From the Watch, you said? I am Vishtai, Lord d’Orien’s majordomo,” the kalashtar introduced himself. “Whatever you have to say can be addressed to me. As you can see, Lord d’Orien is under a great deal of stress due to...family matters.” He gave a respectful nod of the head to Alara and Liutbrand, the two noble members of the party. “I have heard of your inquisitive service. You were in the broadsheets recently, were you not?”

Spoiler: Goals

Speak with Alden d’Orien
Ultimate: Figure out what’s going on in Lower Sharn. (25 gp each)

Spoiler: Encounter Stats

Ogham. 17 AC 15 HP 11/11 PP 15
Rotom. 8 AC 16 HP 10/10 PP 9
Korra 11 AC 18 HP 14/14 PP 13
Liutbrand 15 AC 14 HP 13/13 PP 15
DePoe 12 AC 14 HP 10/10 PP 11
Alara 19 AC 11 HP 9/9 PP 12

Spoiler: Loot

157 gp

 

[mfloyd3]

Oh gods, thought Alara, He's about to ask if we're the plumbers.

"Our satisfied customers have made public statements," Alara allowed carefully. She looked at the distraught d'Orien, then spared a glance at Liutbrand. The former offered no new information and the latter seemed inclined to let her continue, so she took the plunge. "We know that Lord d'Orien arranged for warforged diggers to do some excavations for another party. We understand that his son was held and he did so under duress. And..." she hesitated, but pushed forward. "We have reason to believe they intend to kill his son."

She let that sink in.

 

[Leatherhead]

The Scion's outburst perturbed Rotom, chasing away what questions she had about the visual unicorn display.

The kobold felt a bit of empathy, family is important after all, even here in the city; and a bit of apprehension, when people in high places fall apart, the fallout can be incredibly dangerous.

At any rate, she rationalized, the way forward right now is determining if he is just tangled up in this web, or potentially pulling the strings. And the best way to do that, is to keep an eye on d'Orien while Lady Alara and Liutbrand continue to talk with Vishtai.

 

[JustinCase]

Ogham tilts his head when the noble starts weeping, studying the man. Of course the warforged feels emotions, but it never ceases to amaze him that the non-constructed people seem to experience them quite differently, even to the point of non-functioning. And in nature, as in battle, to be crippled by emotions is to die. But somehow people survive, even thrive despite these crippling emotions. Odd.

It takes a while before Ogham realizes that studying a person too long is uncomfortable or even confrontational, and he turns his head to the other human - at least, he looks human enough. Not even trying to fill in what he's missed from the conversation, the warforged merely studies the man and his bearing. Does he look like a capable warrior?

 

[jmucchiello]

Korra did not understand why older man blubber. If you lose one son, you make another. That is the normal way, she thinks. A moment later she realized that was the old way. Back before she fled from the clan. Fled from the brutal life she once led. Here in the big city, life wasn't much more valued than it was in the Wastes. But it was a bit safer. Perhaps being rich changed attitudes.

She looked around but still could not see where the unicorn went.

 

[Olrox17]

Liutbrand listens to Alara, nodding in agreement with her words. He certainly didn't expect the old man to break composure like that.
Liutbrand grew up in house Torrn d'Tharashk, and was used to be surrounded by stone-faced, strict older kinsmen and kinswomen. Discipline was always rigid, and he never saw an older member of the house publicly let of go of emotions like that, in front of complete strangers no less! What a lack of dignity.

Then, Liutbrand remembers how much he despised that constant, emotionless facade of strength and decorum, and feels some pity for the old man.

 

[KahlessNestor]

Upper Central Plateau/Mithral Tower/Unicorn Estate
Far, 27 Rhaan, YK 998 (Early autumn)/2145
Weather: Temperature normal for the season (cool), no wind, light rain (outside the towers)
Round 0

Alden d’Orien broke down more when Alara mentioned his son might be killed. It took a bit of patience and cajoling from the Plumbers and Vishtai, but they finally managed to get some semblance of the story from Alden.

Alden wants badly to rescue his son, but he is terrified that if he takes action, Caden will be killed. The boy was abducted almost a month ago. Alden had tucked him into bed one night, and he was gone the following morning with a message in his place. A hulking half-ogre met with Alden in the following days, explaining she needed expendable labor and easy transit of said labor and goods. As long as he complied, Caden would be returned unharmed when her business was done. If Alden backed out of the deal, the half-ogre said she would visit horrors on Caden that would make the Mockery sick.

Alden broke down again and fled inside, leaving the Plumbers with Vishtai.

“I have been trying to convince Lord d’Orien to stand up to these...bullies, but he is too worried for his son,” the kalashtar said.

Then Vishai’s voice was speaking in their minds, not out loud.

“I have no doubt that Caden will die, regardless of Alden’s actions. Please, save Caden and return him to his father. House Orien would owe you a great debt, and you see how broken the man is. There is an enclosed lift five buildings north of this estate. Look for the medusa inside. Make sure you’re alone, as this lift will take you down to the dig site and, hopefully, Caden.”

Spoiler: Goals

Speak with Alden d’Orien
Ultimate: Figure out what’s going on in Lower Sharn. (25 gp each)

Spoiler: Encounter Stats

Ogham. 17 AC 15 HP 11/11 PP 15
Rotom. 8 AC 16 HP 10/10 PP 9
Korra 11 AC 18 HP 14/14 PP 13
Liutbrand 15 AC 14 HP 13/13 PP 15
DePoe 12 AC 14 HP 10/10 PP 11
Alara 19 AC 11 HP 9/9 PP 12

Spoiler: Loot

157 gp

 

[mfloyd3]

Even as she resented the intrusion, Alara wondered if the Kalashtar picked up on her surge of hope at this thought-words. A favor from d'Orien? That might go far indeed in restoring her family's fortunes.

She pushed the thought aside and looked to Liutbrand. It was his decision whether to trust this stranger's words and ride into the bowels of Khyber with such a dangerous creature.

 

[Leatherhead]

d'Orien seems sincere enough... Rotom postulated to herself before the mental message manifested, bringing that train of thought to an abrupt halt.

Such telepathy was not unheard of in Droaam, a few of the Warlords and even some Mayors could do it, and often did so to try and cow her father while in meetings. The young kobold occasionally got caught in the crossfire of such broadcasts. Words spoken to her mind always seemed more raw and powerful than words that used a voice, and were always a bit uncomfortable.

Rotom shook off the unease. Then, be it by prodding or simple empathy from the message, turned her focus to the captive boy Caden. "Caden is likely to be just as broken as his father is right now, perhaps moreso." The artificer takes Liutbrand's ear while she has a chance. "If we come across him, we would need some method of calming him down. We should ask for anything he likes, perhaps a favorite toy? It could maybe even help with finding him."

 

[jmucchiello]

Korra tilts to the side and raps her knuckles on her head as if trying to get something to fall out of her down-turned ear. "Someone say look for Medusa? That bad, no?"